Developed
in the 1950s and introduced in 1953 as an available-light ultrawide
lens for shooting hand held wide open on press cameras, this lens is
awful for use on a modern 4x5 because it has too little coverage (92
degrees or 153 mm image circle) to provide any movements. These lenses
are only bought by rich impressionable amateurs who don't know how to
use the movements on their 4 x 5" cameras. They also weigh a ton
and are huge. You can buy these for about $600 without a shutter from
a industrial surplus place in Pasadena, CA, ($1,200 with a shutter)
or be an idiot and pay $2,500 for the same thing from a camera store.
It is poor for real photography because it is huge and does not provide
movements with its restricted 153 mm image circle. It's great for use
on aerial cameras and working wide open, but that's not what you're
doing on 4 x 5." A much better lens is the 75mm
f/5.6 Schneider Super-Angulon or 72mm XL.